The 11th Congress of the Communist Party in Guangzhou took place on December 26. Ren Xuefeng, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee, gave a keynote speech on behalf of the municipal party committee, outlining overall accomplishments from the last five years and proposing the goals in the coming five years.

The achievements he mentioned include:

— Overall economic strength has been improved.

The GDP grew from the 1.24 trillion yuan in 2011 to 1.95 trillion yuan in 2016, with an annual growth rate of 9.4 percent. Revenue in general public budgets across the city grew from 96 billion yuan in 2011 to 1370 billion yuan in 2016, representing an annual growth rate of 7.4 percent.

— Breakthroughs have made on the policy of reform and opening-up.

Nansha New District and the Nansha pilot free trade zone were upgraded to being part of the national strategy, with 209 achievements of reform and opening-up. Development in the open economy reached a new stage, with total exports of 2016 estimated at 518.57 billion yuan, an expansion of 41.1 percent over 2011.

— Innovation-driven development showed strong results.

The city has been developed into a national model city for intellectual property rights, with 22 invention patents per 10,000 people. Companies listed on the innovation market of the National Equities Exchange and Quotations reached 345, high-tech business incubators numbered 190, and research and development institutions totaled 44.

— Urban planning and construction has been improved.

Cargo throughput in the port of Guangzhou increased to 540 million tons, and the container throughput totaled 18.75 billion Twenty Equivalent Units, ranking 4th highest in China, according to estimates. The passenger throughput at Baiyun International Airport reached 59 million people, ranking 3rd in the country.

— Construction of democracy and the rule of law were promoted.

The Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court, the first Free Trade Zone Court and the Guangzhou Arbitration Court of International Shipping were established.

— Progress has been made in improving people’s lives and developing social undertakings.

Employment remained robust, with 1.46 million new jobs created. The medical and health service system was improved, with average life expectancy extended from 79.04 years in 2010 to 81.72 years in 2016. In the past five years, 112,900 government-subsidized houses were added for low-income people.

— The ecological environment of Guangzhou has improved.

Guangzhou was elected as a National Model City for Greening, with greenways totaling 3200 miles. The density of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) declined significantly.

Goals to realize for Guangzhou in the next 5 years:

— Guangzhou will improve the quality of economic development by readjusting and optimizing the industrial structure. By 2020, the GDP is expected to reach 2.8 trillion yuan.

— Guangzhou aims to develop a hub-and-spoke system and redouble its efforts to improve urban planning, development, and management to provide better living, innovation and working environments.

— The city will work hard to improve people’s living standard and foster synchronous growth of income with economic expansion. It will coordinate efforts to deliver quality and balanced services in education, medical field, culture, sports, and old-age care.

— Guangzhou will boost its efforts to deepen its reform and opening-up policy, especially in its economic structure.

— The city will strive to build a talent pool by providing financial and policy support. It will create a sound environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship.

— It will promote the development of the cultural sector by pushing forward the proper distribution of cultural facilities such as libraries, galleries and museums, and by developing the cultural industries into strategic pillar industries.

— Guangzhou will improve its overall public performance, strengthen its administrative capacity, and deliver quality government services. It will ensure that all government duties are performed in accordance with the law, and it will move forward the development of democracy and rule of law.

— The city will endeavor to promote ecological conservation and build a beautiful Guangzhou where the sky is blue, the air is fresh and the water runs clear.